Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-15
A HEALTHY CITY.
DR.. TOwnshend's Annual Report Pre-
SCENTS Gratifying Figures.


IN MARRIAGES AND BIKTHs-rHE NEED OF A CON-
pIErK RECORD or MARRIAGES AND DIvoRcRs-LTHI
BAD DRAINAGE OF GOVERNMENT BUnDINaa
The report OF the health on1cer, Dr. Smith
Townshend for the fiscal year ending June 30
last, says: "The total number OF deaths for the
year reached 4.665, showing q decrease of as
compared with last year and being q less number
than for any year since 1883 The annual DEATH
rate per 1000 per annum for the year population
estimated. 1t 100000 was 22.21. the lowest
annual death-rate for twelve years, being LII per
loo below the mean-rate for that period
"The death-rate OF the white population was
i7.74 per 1000 per annum, that Of the colored
population 3l.15. IL Is worth while in this con-
nection to call attention to the small death-rats
Of our white population and the contin-
ued good showing In this direction.
The rate Of 100 per 1000 per
annum is considered about the minimum to be
years the death-rate Of our white popuiation has
at no time reached 20. the mean rate bein 1880.
ea Of xSat Wilmington might sSS Ss Il for
colOre people, very large numbesf q pPp whom are
careless OF all the laws OF nature let alone sanitary
laws and the laws of hygiene. The death-rate Of
the coiored population during the past twelve
nun, and has gone as high as 40 The mean ID being
34.3e per LOCO This death-rate must OF course,
be added TO that Of the white population,
death.rate OF the District Of Columbia The death
rate OF
THE coLoRRD POPULATION
IL lower for the past year, however. than the mean
rate for the past twelve years by aga per LOCO
per annum-
1.-THE deaths for the year by sex ana color were AZ
follows: 1.343 white males; la white females
l,079 colored males and I. 1O2 colored females 1t
show a larger mortality tnan the colored males
for the year. yet II Is In this class that we nnd the
decrease as compared with last year, which
brings the total number o. deaths below that Of
1885.
Arranged according to classes OF disease we ind
70 the eonsttutonai T. ~ to the local. 4sS to the
leveopmental, and 1879 to violence. The zymotic
diseases, such as typhoid, scarlet and the other
which are p Supposed to fina fodsemeni and susie
nance In insanitary conditions; and right here
on comes to the ons Dsafy
that Of the white population. The annual
death-rate Of the white population from
s54 per 1000 per annum, that OF the colored popu
lation 6.29 per / 200 per annum. This year the
deash-r , Of the white population Is 37e Per
subject Of vital statistics win be discussed at
greater length further on in these pages but l
facts In the opening, IN order that all persons In
terested may see the effect that the colored pOpu-
lation has upon the death-rate OF the District"
SYNOPSIS OF OPERATIONS
The following Is a synopsis OF the work performed
in the various branches Of the service during the
year: There were l7.51s nuisances reported and
abated, 81, SIC pounds OF meat, 20, 5s7 pounds OF
1sh, 16.6O6A bushels OF fruits and vegetables, 479
bushels OF oysters S8.217 clans and l63 $50 crabs
condemned as UNFIT for food. Examinations and re-
ports were made on $50 nscOmpaints.9 $50 OF.
ncial letters written 300 Official notices were Issued.
rs cases were referred TO the attorney and % to
the chemist for action. There were 3,05S animals
impounded, and the contractor Ior the removal Of
ofal took away 912O dead animals. Is, 6l2 tons OF
Phofxa and slI n harR nf nrtrlf zntl hn
physicians to tue poor treated i5,7s5 patients,
OF which number 5,O72 were white and TO- 7Z3
Kinds issuea and 5ss orders issued Tor Duriais At
the public expense. There were ,924 inspections
OF plumbing work made, and 466 Inspections OF
yards connected with sewers Three hundred and
seventy transcripts from the records OF births
marriages and deaths were furnished applicants,
streets on account OF serious illness OF residents
ALLEYS AND ASHES
Referring to the abatement OF nuisancesfn alleys
the report says: These alleys were In majority
of instances unimproved, and in such cases IL Is a
very hard matter to prevent the creation and con-
alleys with asphalt block, under the compulsory
permit system, augurs wei for sanitary improve
"Ashes loom up as being responsible for four hun
dred and Sixty-twO nusancea The ash OF wood or
coal IS not IN itSeI nuisance but IL Is the small
or large accumulation which has been deposited
In the cellar, In the yard or In the alley that
tices refuse and nth OF all other kinds TO swell Its
now with recommendations that asnes be removed
at the pubic expense. just as the garbage Is. The
prompt and regular removal OF ashes would be q
great sanitary refor n In that IL would remove
numberless sources o, nuisance. I would again
urge this matter upon the attention of the Com
miSSioners."
The report treats at some length of the different
classes OF nuisances abated during the year.
USwHoLEsoxB FOOD COMBINATIONS.
Under this head the report says very few peo-
pie have any idea Of the vast amount Of food con-
demned as unwholesome every year. The beef
pounds while all the meats and poultry together
runs up TO 2106S1 pounds During the year there
was condemned, am0ag other things 81 sos
pounds OF veal, TBS pounds OF pork, lS9 chick
en,, 4, $50 pounds OF grpes l3,9O2 watermelons,
Sc, s6s cabbages, and 9, 497 dozens OF cucumbers.
MAKNs PRODUCTS
The inspection OF marine products shows an In.
crease In the receipts OF shad and herring the two
principal Potomac nshes, for the year. There was
q slight decrease In the number OF bushels OF oys-
ters received, and there only 40 bushes con-
as Ior sns year 4e
herring, 1853, so crabs. SS,2l7 CLANS, and o, ISL
punches OF bunch nsh.
THE POUND SERVICE.
In reference to the pound service, the report
says here was a slight decrease In the number of
dogs impounded. Washington seems, however, to
nave sumo unlalAuS SOURCE Vi Oog supply. Inc
average animal capture for the past six years has
been 30SS per year, and OF the ,623 dogs taken.
fully 1900 have been killed without any percept-
IDLE effect on the dog population. The new police
regulations entail upon the poundmaster the duty
OF taking up chickens found running at large but
before this work can be entered upon It win be
necessary TO get from Congress APPROXIMATION
TO provide Tor building or pens, construction OF
suitable wagon. &C., as there Is no provision at
present for these things
Tables are given showing the work done by the
physicians OF the poor, and the amount OF ofl re-
moved during the year.
MEDICAL SANITARY INSPECTION
Commenting on the report OF the medical sani-
tary inspector the health ocer says: cit is graft
Tying 70 note the fact that scarlet fever has been
| reduced from l6s fatal cases in 1884 and III in
1885 10 only 10 Tor the present year. Two wears
ago the Inspector MADE plea for a change in the
methods OF the practice OF midwifery in the DIS
trfct. This plea seconded heartily knowing rull
wei that the practice OF both medicine and mid.
wifery stand badly In need OF regulation In the
District. We are overrun with Quacks and incom-
petent midwfes In this city, and as copse0ue nee
our infantile mortality and record OF still.
births are largely augmented This year he
present method OF issuing marriage iicenses
and expecting TO get any sort Of record we have
been waiting patiently year after year Tor the
much talked OF cOdncation OF the District laws
and we lived in hope OF having numerous den,
IF there Is no hope for the code at the Incoming
session OF Congress then bills covering these
matters should be drawn and presented Tor action
THE DISPOSAL THE DEAD
Referring TO what was said In his last animal
report on the question Of cemeteries the health
of1cer says: 1.-THE question OF the disposal OF the
otns nj no roo mum bop ~ ro-.o-.